Locking device.



. R. E. PERKINS.

LOCKING nEvmE. APPLICATION FILED vMAY 3 1915.

v1, 172,482, Patented Feb. 22, 1916.

R ICHARO E.PERKINS Pn co., WASHINGTON D c RICHARD E. PERKINS, or ATLANTA, GEORGIA.

LOCKING DEVICE.y

Specification of Letters Patent.

`Application filed May 3, 191.5. Serial No. 25,534.

To `ZZ whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, RICHARD E. PERKINS, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Atlanta, in the county of Fulton. and State of Georgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Locking Devices, of which the following is al specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to an improved locking device and has for its primary object to provide a simple, durable'and effective means for retaining a memorandum or note book in the pocket and obviating liability of its accidental displacement and loss therefrom.

The invention has for one of its detail objects to provide a device for the above .purpose including laterally projected spring pressed locking or holding members mounted within a suitable case, and `means for easily, quickly and securely attaching-the device to the back of` a note or memorandum book.

The invention has for a very important object to provide a simple and durable arrangement of parts whereby the entire locking mechanism is very compactly arranged so that the same will not bulge the pocket but, on the other hand, will occupy but little space.

The invention has for another very important object to provide means for easily releasing the locking or holding membersv after the book has been placed in the pocket, said members being retracted when thel book is inserted so that they-.will not interfere with the `placing, of the book within the pocket.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement ofparts to be hereinafter more fully described, claimed,` and illustrated in the V`accompanying drawing, in which,

Figure 1 isa side elevation of my improved loeking device, the lockingplates or members being shown in .their extended positions; Fig. 2 is an edge view of a book partly in section, showing the locking device attached thereto; Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view; Figye is an edge view with the device attachedto the book back; Fig. 5 isa section taken on-the line 5-5 of Fig. 1;"Fig. 6- is a'section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3; Fig. 7 is an edge elevation of the locking members.

Referring in detail to the drawing, 5

designates the body plate of the lock caseA Patented Feb. 22, 1916.

which is constructed Aof sheet metal and is i provided with llateral extensions, indicated The longitudinal edge of` this body plate Vis turned or bent over upon itself to produce the guide ange 7 thereon, and upon the opposite longitudinal edges of the extensions "6, the similar inwardly projecting opposed guide flanges 8 are provided. The

I body plate of the case for the locking mechanism also includes the substantially semicircular portion, indicated at 9. The cover or'face plate 10for the lockv case is also formed from a singlesheet of metal and substantially corresponds in plan to the form of the party 9 of the body plate 5. `The curved edge of the face plate 10`has va flange 11 formed thereon VAwhich is adapted to engage at its edge upon the lopposed face of the part 9 of the body plate. In this flange,

centrally thereof, a slot 12 is providedrtol re-` ceive an inwardly projecting tongue or lip 13 which is formed upon the edge `of the sheet metal plate 5. The longitudinal edge portion of the face plate lOnprojects inwardly between the spaced guide fianges 8 on the body plate land the opposite ends of said cover are formed with the extensions 14 which are offset and abut at their ends against the opposed longitudinal edge of face plate also have their outer edges tinuation of the flange k'11 of the cover, but

the guide flange 7 on the body of the case. It will be observed from reference to Fig. 8, that the extended ends 14 of the cover or being appreciab'ly narrower or cut away, as

indicated at 15, so' that the edges ofthe flanges will be spaced from the sliding locking plates to be hereinafter referred to.

l'he Aedge of the keeper plate, between the extensions 14, is also fiangedand 'centrally Y provided with a spacing lug V14: for engagement with the face of the body plate.

The locking mechanism includes the relativelyslidable locking plates 16 which are arranged between the Vflanges 7 and 8 and the longitudinal edge portion and extensions 6 of the body plate 5 of the case. The outer` ends of these lookin plates 16 are curvedor bent, as `shown at 1 so that they will not of the lock case. i The extensions 14 on the4 end of said face plateact as, stops to limit the outward movement of the locking plates. Each of the plates 16 has its lower edge re cessed to provide a shoulder 2O thereon. A

common keeper bar 21 is provided to -hold the plates in their retracted position. This bar is disposed between the body wall and the face plate of the lock case and is provided upon its ends with angularly disposed stop lugs 22 for engagement with the shoulders 2O upon the respective locking4 plates. The face plate 10 is rigidly secured to the body plate of the lock case by a pairl of rivets 23. These rivets are located `contiguous to opposite ends of the keeper bar 21 and also serve `to limit the movement of said bar in one direction. Upon a pin 24 fixed to the body plate 5 of thefcase, a central coil 25, formed in a wire spring 26, is engaged. The free ends of this `wire spring bear against the keeper bar 21 adjacent to its opposite ends, and normally act to hold `the lugs 22 on said bar in engagement with the edges of the locking plates 16. The keeper bar 21 is formed with a suitable finger piece 27` which projects outwardly through an elongated lslot 28 in the face plate 10. This keeper bar at lthe juncture of the finger piece therewith is also provided with shoulders 29 having sliding contactl with the inner face of ythe plate 10 so as to prevent any transverse shifting movement of the keeper with i respect to the platesy of the case.

For the purposeof projecting the locking i plates 16 to their effective positions, I pro#` vide a length of resilient wire formed with L spaced spiral springs `30 in its medial por tion. The ends of this spring wire constii tute arms 31, the extremities of which are engaged through openings 32 provided in the inner ends of the respective locking plates 16,`said extremities of the arms, after beinglpassed :through the openings, being;

seated in the notches or recesses 33 formed in said locking plates. This actuatingmeans for the locking plates is not attached in any manner to either the body plate 5 of the case or the cover plate 10 thereof, the only attachment of said actuating member being to the movable locking plates, as above stated.;

It will be apparent, from the above description, that the entire locking mechanism may behoused within a very confined space. All of the parts are relatively small and the space betweenxthe body wall and the cover of the case is approximately one-eighthof an Linnea f inch. Inthe accompanying drawing,y how.F

ever, ,the scale Ahasfbeen somewhat exaggerf ated for the Ysake of clearly showing every feature of the invention. By thus compactly arranging the several elements of the locky the device lends itself admirablv to the par` f ticular purpose in: view, namelv. for attach# ment to a memorandum or note book, whereby the same may be within a coat pocket. t n Y For the above purpose, tongues indicated properly held or secured j at 34, are struck ;out of the extensions *6101i` the body wall of the caseiandare adapted to or cover wall C of the book, indicated at E. After these tongues have been inserted be engaged through slits formed in the back through the slits, a leafispring is engaged at its extremities between the extremities of said tongues and the cover wall of the book.y

This spring,= in fits normal condition,` is

slightly bowed or curvedv longitudinally so that `the. ends thereof must be sprung in-k wardly under the lugs 34. `Forthe purpose of retaining thev spring yinpositiomthe endsfl.

of thespring arefornied with projections 35 to'engage in sockets 34 in the lugs 341. Thespring tending to return to its normal condition ywill thus act to securely clamp the lock case against the opposite edges-ofi the book cover.y Such attaching meanspersv mits the userto very easily and quickly at-` tach the locking device to a cover of` the book or remove the saine therefrom.

Having now fully describedthe several structural featuresl of my invention, its operatien will be understood as follows: When the book is placed within the pocket,l the bar 21 against the action-of the spring `26 to release the lockingy plates. The arms 81Lof the resilient wire, undertlie action of lthe spiral springs 30, will then immediately .act to project said locking plates outwardly, thus causing the rounded'` or 'curved louter ends 17 thereof to engagewith rthe lining wall of the pocket at opposite sides `lofy the saine. The book will,2 in this manner, be very securelyv held onretained in the pocket and will not be displaced by the wearerxof the coat assuming various postures whichl would, under ordinarycircumstances causei the book to slide from the pocket'. Neither will the book be yreleased when thecoat is carelessly handled or the wearer` is running,v

but will be, at 'all times, positivelyl retained within the pocket against liability of displacement and loss. However, when'. it is desired to remove the book, the outer ends of the plates 16 are engaged between the thumb and fore-finger Jfrom the exterior of the pocket and forced inwardly until the lugs 22 on the ends of the keeper bar again engage with the shoulders 20 and hold the plates in their retracted positions.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it will be seen that I have produced a very simple, eifective and convenient locking device for memorandum books and the like which, owing to its condensed form, will not bulge the pocket or in any way detract :from the appearance of the wearer when the device is in use. It will, therefore, be

apparent that, in view of the very simple form and construction of the several elements employed, the locking attachment-can be manufactured at comparatively small cost.

While I have shown and described the preferred construction and arrangement of the several parts, it is to be borne in mind that the invention is susceptible of considerable modification therein and I, therefore, reserve the privilege of resorting to all such legitimate changes as may be fairly embodied within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent is l. A locking device of the'character described comprising a flat sheet metal case, longitudinally slidable locking plates mounted in said case, means arranged between the walls of the case normally acting to project the locking plates to their eective position, a manually shiftable keeper member mounted within the case to retain the plates in retracted position, means for attaching said locking case to a book cover whereby, when the plates are released, the same will be projected into bearing engagement at their outer ends with the walls of the pocket to retain the book therein.

2. A lock of the character described including a casing having a rectangular guideway integrally formed therewith' and a slot communicating with one side of the guideway, longitudinally slidable locking plates mounted in said guideway, means arranged within the case and connected to the opposed ends of the plates to normally urge the same outwardly in opposite directions to their effective locking positions, and a manually shiftable keeper member common to both locking plates to hold the same in a retracted position.

3. In a locking device of the character described comprising a flat sheet metal case, a pair of locking plates mounted in said case for sliding movement, a common operating ber having a central finger piece projecting outwardly through one wall of the case.

Il. In a lock of the character described, a sheet metal case, slidable locking plates mounted in the case and provided with stop lugs on their inner ends, a common resilient operating member for said plates connected at its extremities to the inner opposed ends of the plates, a common keeper member for the plates mounted within the case and movable at right angles to the line of movement of the locking plates, a spring normally holding the keeper in engagement with said plates to hold the same in their retracted positions, said keeper being provided with a. central finger piece projecting outwardly through one wall of the case.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiiX my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

RICHARD E. PERKINS. Witnesses: -f

M. CARLISLE LYDDANE, JOHN L. FLETCHER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Iatents, Washington, D. C. 

